2019 Class Schedule Update

Thought for Today

Each year BDK shares a daily calendar of Buddhist thoughts paired with colorful images.

A spark of Buddhist wisdom for the 22nd day of this month.

One who sees the true nature of thingsalways sees the Buddha.

A Teaching a Day

As a simple approach to basic Buddha's teachings, BDK America has provided 31 short lessons. Each day we provide a new lesson so that busy people will only need a minute or two each day to learn more about Buddhism.

The Teaching of Buddha - Day 22

Once, a beautiful and well-dressed woman visited a house. The owner of the house inquired who she was, and she answered, "I am the Goddess of Wealth who brings riches to those whom I visit." The owner of the house was delighted, invited her into the house and treated her graciously.

Soon after, an ugly, poorly-dressed woman ar­rived at the same door. The owner asked who she was, and she replied, "I am the Goddess of Pover­ty." The owner, greatly alarmed, tried to drive her away from the house and as he did so she stated, "The woman who came here earlier, the Goddess of Wealth, is my sister. We two sisters never live apart, and if you chase me out, she will disappear along with me." Surely enough, when she left the beauti­ful Goddess of Wealth disappeared along with her.

Birth is accompanied by death; good fortune is accompanied by misfortune. Good things co-ex­ist with bad things and it is important that all men should realize this fact. Foolish men spend all of their time in the search for good fortune, avoiding as best they can any misfortune. Those who follow the path to Enlightenment must transcend both of these, and lead a life free of all worldly attachments.

From the Dhammapada

We hope you enjoy today's excerpt from the Pali Dhammapada, an anthology of Buddhist ethical thoughts and precepts. With its simplicity of expression and poetic beauty, the Dhammapada has been a popular introduction to Buddhist wisdom through the centuries.

The Ignorant ...

69. The ignorant person thinks that an evil deed is like honey, until it ripens; then he suffers, when the evil fruits manifest themselves.70. The merit of the ignorant person who, month after month, eats as little an amount of food as that which collects on the tip of a blade of grass and who undergoes ascetic practices is not comparable to one-sixteenth of the merit of one who practices the right Dharma.71. As fresh milk does not curdle immediately, an evil deed does not immediately bear fruit; it follows the unwise like a fire covered with ashes, that smoulders although unseen.